News from around the 32 counties of Ireland, week of Sept 29 2013

Leitrim players last Wednesday afternoon took to Twitter to voice their disappointment at the decision taken by the County Board to opt out of the F.B.D. final in New York.

County Board Chairman Diarmuid Sweeney was quoted in the Irish Examiner saying, “We are not travelling to New York for the game and to be honest the vote went through very easily at the recent committee meeting. It was proposed and seconded and there was no big discussion about it. After we were already in New York for the championship earlier this summer there was a general understanding that we couldn’t really make the trip.

“Everyone was looking forward to it, but in the current climate we couldn’t expect lads to take off work.”
[Source: Leitrim Observer]

LIMERICK

A judge has ordered state solicitor Michael Murray to inform any interested parties of his decision to order the forfeiture of almost $40,000 in cash, which was seized by Gardaí (police) almost four years ago.

Judge Carroll Moran noted that any third party claiming ownership of the money is now entitled to bring a Police Property Application within the next six months.

Last year, William Alymer, Jr., (32), with addresses at Hyde Road, Ballinacurra Weston and at Sarsfield Court, Lord Edward Street, received a suspended prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to possession of $38,250 in cash on January 11, 2010 for the purpose of committing a drug trafficking offence.
[Source: Limerick Leader]

LONGFORD

Gardaí (police) have appealed for the public’s help after a fire ripped through a house in Edgeworthstown during the early hours of last Wednesday, writes Liam Cosgrove.

No one was hurt in the blaze which broke out at a premise at Tinnynarr, just off the old N4 route in the town just before 12:30 a.m.

A number of fire crews from the local area managed to bring the fire under control, but were unable to save the house which was completely gutted as a result.
[Source: Longford Leader]

LOUTH

A 40-year-old Dundalk business man was one of a number of men to be arrested in relation to a cigarette smuggling sting that was triggered after an Al-Qaeda missile hit a cargo ship.

The Irish Independent have reported that a $5.4 million seizure of cigarettes bound for Dundalk criminals was only stopped on the M1 after a bizarre and highly unlikely set of circumstances. A cargo ship, the Costa Asia, was transporting the fake smokes when it was hit by a missile, apparently from a global terrorist organization affiliated to Al-Qaeda.

Upon inspection of a damaged container, crew found the consignment of unmarked cigarettes.
[Source: Dundalk Democrat]

MAYO

High Street Westport and the blackboard outside McGing’s pub says: “Mayo vs Dublin: 3:30 p.m.” Shortly after 5 p.m., three small children – like green and red rainbows – are meticulously rubbing out the “Dublin” on the board. It is time to retreat, refocus on Mayo. Get back across the Shannon. Forget about Dublin, Croke Park. The elusive Sam Maguire is back inside the Pale for another year. As one circumspect fan said, “We’ve waited 62 years for you, what’s another year.”

In the immediate moments after the painful one-point loss, there is little comfort in the heroic victory of the minors who beat Tyrone in their level of the championship, the first time to bring home the Tom Markham Cup since 1985. Two hours earlier there was a carnival atmosphere inside that had dribbled out to the sun-soaked yard bar at the back during the interval since the successful completion of the minor match.

Minutes later the on-screen singing of Amhrán na bhFiann fails to dull the hum of excitement as the sea of green and red in the packed pub prepares to surge and dance with every forward move of the Mayo team. There is a roar when a snapshot of a huge flag in the Croke Park crowds appears momentarily on the giant screen: “Aghamore G.A.A. Club. Come Back Sam.”
[Source: The Mayo News]

MEATH

Meath hand-ballers continued their bumper season of winning medals when picking up another two honors two weekends ago where, at Broadford (Limerick) on Saturday evening, Brian Carroll and Tom Sheridan faced Mayo men Dessie Keegan and Joe McCann in the senior doubles final.

After an enthralling three-hour marathon the Meath combination emerged victorious on a score line of 16-21, 21-17, 21-16.

Carroll and Sheridan were cheered on by a large crowd who had travelled from Kells and the loyal supporters were rewarded with the match-of-the-year.
[Source: Meath Chronicle]

MONAGHAN

Swift Fine Foods is to create 53 new jobs at its County Monaghan plant over the next three years as part of a $4 million international development program supported by Enterprise Ireland.

A producer of chilled and frozen ready meals serving the retail trade and foodservice markets in the U.K. and Ireland, Swift Fine Foods aims to accelerate the international roll-out of its range.